Our catalogue > Antique Tribal Jewellery
Most items have been sourced from within the UK, often from old colonial-era collections.
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Rare Naga Head Hunter’s Necklace with Four Severed Heads
Naga People, North-Eastern India 19th-early 20th century
length of brass pendant: 12.6cm, length of strand: approximately 57cm, weight: 181g
Provenance
Hansjorg Mayer Collection, UK
Venetian African-Market ‘Eye’ Beads
Venice for the African Market circa 1910
circumference: approximately 62cm, diameter of the beads: approximately 1.5cm, weight: 130g
Provenance
private collection, Canada. The collection was carefully assembled over the last 50 years.
Exceptional, Large Strand of European & African Trade Beads for the West African Market
Trade Beads for the West African Market beads date from ancient to circa 1920
circumference: approximately 82cm, diameter of the white core marble bead: 3.8cm, weight: 404g
Provenance
private collection, Canada. The collection was carefully assembled over the last 50 years.
Large Naga Chank Shell & Trade Bead Necklace
Angami Naga People, North-Eastern India late 19th-early 20th century
length of strand: 111cm, length of chank shells: 15.5 and 16cm, weight: 1,251g
Provenance
Hansjorg Mayer Collection, UK
Rare, Fine German Striped Alley or Marble Bead Necklace
Lauscha, Central Germany, for the export market, including Africa circa 1870
overal length: 58.2cm, diameter of the largest bead: 3.4cm, weight: 346g
Provenance
private collection, Canada. The collection was carefully assembled over the last 50 years.
Naga Head Hunter’s Severed Head Necklace
Naga People, North-Eastern India 19th-early 20th century
length of strand: approximately 50.4cm, length of pendant: 9.1cm, width of pendant: 6.8cm, weight: 161g
Provenance
Hansjorg Mayer Collection, UK
Unusual Naga Trade Glass Bead Multi-Strand Necklace
Naga People, North-Eastern India 1920s
circumference: 47cm, weight: 224g
Provenance
Hansjorg Mayer Collection, UK
Venetian Tabular Trade Beads for the African Market
Venice for the colonial African market 1880s
circumference: approximately 66cm, width of beads: approximately 1.8cm, thickness of beads: approximately: 0.7cm, weight: 136g
Provenance
private collection, Canada. The collection was carefully assembled over the last 50 years.
Two Strands of Venetian Trade Lampwork Beads for the African Market
Venice for the colonial West African market late 19th century
length of strand: 32.8 and 41.2cm, combined weight: 362g
Provenance
private collection, Canada. The collection was carefully assembled over the last 50 years.
Unusual & Rare Naga Headhunter’s Trophy Head Necklace
Naga People, Burma/India 19th century
circumference: 58cm, length of brass pendant: 9.8cm, weight: 232g
Provenance
UK art market
Maori Greenstone Pendant in the form of a Native Bat (Pekapeka)
Maori people, New Zealand 19th century
width: 7.2cm, length: 4.8cm, weight: 38g
Provenance
UK art market
Rare Pair of Sulawesi-Buton Upper-Arm Bridal Bracelets
Butonese People, Buton Island, Eastern Indonesia 19th-early 20th century
external diameter: 13.4cm, internal diameter: 10.3cm, combined weight: 106g
Provenance
private collection, Amsterdam, and acquired in the 1980s by the previous owner in the Netherlands
Massive, Rare Berber ‘Front & Back’ Amber Necklace
Berber or Amazigh People, Ait Yazza Village and related groups, Draa Valley Region, South-eastern Morocco early 20th century
circumference: approximately 140cm, weight: 931g
Provenance
private collection, Germany; collected in the 1980s
Himalayan Shell Pendant or Hair Ornament
Tibetan Peoples, Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, Himalayan India 19th century
length: 8.8cm, width: 7.8cm, depth: approximately 3.5cm, weight: 77g
Provenance
Private collection, Scotland
Rare Himalayan Brass Coil & Shell Pendant Necklace
Tibetan Peoples, Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, Himalayan India 19th century
length of pendant: 13.1cm, width of pendant: 5.1cm, circumference of chain: 70cm, weight: 119g
Provenance
private collection, Scotland
Large & Superb Himalayan Shell Hair Ornament (Dunkertsa)
Tibetan Peoples, Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, Himalayan India and Ladakh 19th century
length: 7.9cm, width: 9.7cm, depth: approximately 4.5cm, weight: 104g
Provenance
private collection, Scotland
Moroccan Berber Necklace of Large Antique Amber Beads
Berber People, High Atlas Mountains, Morocco. 18th-19th century
circumference: approximately 65cm, length of beads: between 2.5 and 6.2cm, overall weight: 622g
Provenance
private collection, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Rare Himalayan Brass Coil & Shell Pendant Necklace
Tibetan Peoples, Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, Himalayan India 19th century
length of pendant: 13.1cm, width of pendant: 5.1cm, circumference of chain: 70cm, weight: 119g
Provenance
private collection, Scotland
African Dogon Cast Brass Pendant of a Seated, Bound Female Slave
Dogon People, Mali 19th century or earlier
height: 6.7cm, weight: 134g
Provenance
UK art market
Rare Naga Necklace with Turquoise-coloured Trade Beads
Naga People, Burma/India early 20th century
circumference: approximately 83cm, weight: 328g
Provenance
private collection, US
Unusually Large, Naga Trade Bead & Bone Belt or Girdle
Konyak Naga People, North-West India & Western Burma early 20th century and possibly earlier
length: 82cm, width: 13.5cm
Provenance
private collection, US
Konyak Naga Trade Bead, Brass Bell & Shell Necklace
Konyak Naga People, North-West India & Western Burma early 20th century
Provenance
private collection, US
Fine & Rare African Senufo Brass Ancestor Pendant
Senufo or Dan People, Ivory Coast or Liberia circa 1930
width: 13.5cm, height: 6.2cm, weight: 198g
Provenance
UK art market
Rare Dogon Brass Talismanic Pendant Showing Five Ancestor Figures
Burkina Faso or Mali circa 19th century
height: 7.3cm, width: 10.8cm, weight: 153g
Provenance
UK art market
Large & Superb Himalayan Shell Hair Ornament (Dunkertsa)
Tibetan Peoples, Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, Himalayan India and Ladakh 19th century
length: 7.9cm, width: 9.7cm, depth: approximately 4.5cm, weight: 104g
Provenance
private collection, Scotland
Himalayan Shell Pendant or Hair Ornament
Tibetan Peoples, Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, Himalayan India 19th century
length: 8.8cm, width: 7.8cm, depth: approximately 3.5cm, weight: 77g
Provenance
Private collection, Scotland
Fine Baule Cast Brass Necklace
Baule People, Ivory Coast early 20th century
circumference: approximately 81cm, weight: 184g
Provenance
private collection, US
Large & Early Kina Shell Pectoral Pendant with Stone-Drilled Holes
Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea late 18th-19th century
width: approximately 19cm, weight: 183g
Provenance
Julian Harding Collection, London
Isneg Mother-of-Pearl & Bead Chest Ornament (Sipatal)
Isneg People, Northern Luzon Island, Philippines early 20th century
length of glass bead strands: 30cm, length of mother-of-pearl shell components: approximately 21.5cm, weight: 159g
Provenance
private collection, London, UK
Tunisian Woman’s Silver Anklet (Khelkhal Menfouk)
Kairouan and Sfax regions, Tunisia 19th-early 20th century
width of hoop: widest at 12.4cm, depth of closed box: 3.1cm, weight: 55g
Provenance
private collection, Germany
Solomon Islands Large Pectoral Pendant (Tafi or Dafe)
Solomon Islands early 20th century
length: 20.7cm, weight: 190g
Provenance
from the estate collection of a former London museum curator
Nias Headhunter’s Torque Necklace (Kalabubu)
South Nias, Indonesia early 20th century
inner diameter: widest at 23.2cm, widest disk: 4.8cm, weight: 572g
Provenance
UK art market
Solomon Islands Engraved Shell Pendants with Shell Currency Strands
Solomon Islands early 20th century
length (of the largest pendant): 6.6cm, weight: 98g
Provenance
from the estate collection of a former London museum curator
Solomon Islands Carved Clam Shell & Seed Necklace
Solomon Islands early 20th century
width (of shell pendant): 8.5cm, weight: 99g
Provenance
from the estate collection of a former London museum curator
Solomon Islands Engraved Shell Pendants with Shell Currency Strands
Solomon Islands early 20th century
length (of the largest shell pendant): 5.8cm, weight: 92g
Provenance
from the estate collection of a former London museum curator
Solomon Islands Gold Lipped Pearl Shell Pendant with attached Shell Currency Strands
Solomon Islands early 20th century
length (of shell): 7cm, width: 6.7cm, weight: 26g
Provenance
from the estate collection of a former London museum curator
Solomon Islands Small Pectoral Pendant (Tafi or Dafe)
Solomon Islands early 20th century
length: 9.3cm, weight: 25g
Provenance
from the estate collection of a former London museum curator
Chin Minority Large Brass Spools for a Necklace
Chin People, Western Burma 19th century
circumference: approximately 67cm, lengths of the spools: approximately 12.3cm, 12.7cm, 13.1cm, 14.1cm and 14.6cm; width of the widest spool: 2.8cm, weight: 373g
Provenance
private collection, London.
Pair of Nigerian Cast & Engraved Bronze Bangles
Lower Niger River, Nigeria early 20th century
external diameter (widest): 9.9 to 10.1cm, internal diameter: 5.4 to 5.9cm, combined weight: 1,330g
Provenance
UK art market
Naga Blue Glass Bead & Brass Necklace
Konyak Naga People, Burma/India circa 1900
length of pendant: 14.5cm, width: 6.2cm, circumference: approximately 72cm
Provenance
private European collection
Pair of Naga Brass Bracelets
Naga People, North-Eastern India 19th century
internal diameter: approximately 6.8cm, combined weight: 549g
Provenance
private European collection
Exceptional Collection of 18 Aztec Black-Clay, Tubular, Ear Plugs or Spools
Aztec Civilisation, Capilco, Mexico 14th-15th century
diameter: 2.1cm (smallest), 3.1cm (biggest)
Provenance
UK art market, prior to that Madrid, Spain from before 1974
Silver Double Axe Pendant (Taka)
Central Flores, Eastern Indonesia 18th-19th century
height: 6.2cm, width: 7.3cm, weight: 15.4g
Provenance
Dutch antique market; private Dutch collection; acquired previously in the Netherlands
Yoruba Cast Brass Opele Oracle Chain
Yoruba People, Nigeria 19th century
circumference: approx.: 96cm, weight: 178g
Provenance
UK art market
Naga Chank Shell Bead Necklace
Naga People, Eastern India/Western Burma 19th century
length: 60cm, weight: 216g
Provenance
private collection, London
Naga Warrior’s Brass Neck Torque
Naga People, Eastern India/Western Burma 18th-19th century
width: 16.5cm, weight: 135g
Provenance
private collection, London.
Zulu Wooden Ear Plugs with Bakelite Tile Decoration
Zulu People, South Africa circa 1940
diameter (each): 6.5cm, combined weight: 61g
Provenance
private collection, UK.
Pair of Dayak Solid Brass Pendant Ear Ornaments
Kenyah/Kayan Dayak People, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia early 20th century
lengths: 7.3cm, combined weights: 396g
Provenance
private collection, UK
Zulu Wooden Ear Plugs with Bakelite Tile Decoration
Zulu People, South Africa circa 1940
diameters: 5.5cm, thickness: 0.8cm
Provenance
private collection, UK
Necklace of Manabi Terracotta Spindle Whorls
Pre-Colombian Manabi Culture, Ecuador 500BC-500AD
length: 68cm, weight: 104g
Provenance
Acquired in the UK, from the estate collection of Dr George Yuille Caldwell (1924-2016). Dr Caldwell, an English-born physician moved to Singapore in the 1950s, from where he built up a superb collection of ethnographica.
Cast Brass Senufo Ring
Senufo People, Ivory Coast 19th or early 20th century
weight: 19.6g, ring size: 10.75 (US), V/V (UK)
Provenance
UK art market
Three Solid Copper Mossi African Hairpins
Mossi People, Burkina Faso 19th century
7.5-9cm
Provenance
Private collection, London.
Exceptional Pair of Igbo Man’s Cast Brass Wrist Guards or Cuff Bracelets
Igbo People, South-central and South-eastern Nigeria probably 19th century
heights: 17cm, diameters: 10.7cm, combined weights: 1,150g
Provenance
UK art market
Bontoc Clam Shell Bead & Glass Bead Necklace
Bontoc People, Northern Luzon, Philippines 19th-20th century
weight: 169g
Provenance
private collection, UK.
Indian Yellow Venetian Glass & Brass Bead Necklace
Andhra Pradesh, India 19th century
length: 84cm, weight: 280g
Provenance
UK private collection
Naga Bead & Bone Belt or Girdle
Naga People, India/Burma 19th century
length (approx): 67cm, width: 15.5cm, weight: 517g
Provenance
private collection, London.
Rare Cast Brass Necklace
Vere People, North-Eastern Nigeria & Cameroon 19th century
length: 69cm, weight: 1,303g
Provenance
UK art market
Woman’s Brass & Beaded Headdress & Ear Ornament Set
Kikuyu People, Kenya early 20th century
diameter of each spiral : 8.8cm; length of headdress: 38cm, total weight: 325g
Provenance
UK art market
Carved Shell, Glass & Wood Bead & Fossilised Palmwood (Pumtek) Necklace
Mizo People, Eastern India, or Naga People, Burma/India circa 1900
length: 80cm, weight: 100g
Provenance
private collection, London.
Cast Brass Male Fertility Ring
Muria People, Bastar, Madhya Pradesh, India 18th-19th century
overall approximate widest diameter: 5cm, weight: 52g
Provenance
private London collection
Cast Brass Male Fertility Ring
Muria People, Bastar, Madhya Pradesh, India 18th-19th century
overall approximate widest diameter: 6cm, weight: 46g
Provenance
private London collection
Pair of New Guinea Cone-Shell Ear Ornaments, dated 1859
New Guinea collected in 1859
maximum diameter of each: 7cm
Provenance
UK art market; private collection, UK.
Ashanti Cast Brass Pendant & Brass Bead Necklace
Asante/Ashanti, Ghana, West Africa early 20th century
length of pendant: 12.5cm, length of chain: 66cm, weight: 193g
Provenance
UK art market
Rare Pair of Ijebu-Yoruba Bronze Ceremonial Anklets
Nigeria 18th century
diameter: 19cm
Provenance
private collection, Isle of Wight, UK.
Chief’s Bronze ‘Tiered’ Anklet with Bells
Gio or Dan & Wee People, Liberia & Cote d’Ivoire 19th century
outside diameter: 11.5cm, inside diameter: 7.5cm x 8.5cm, height: 4.3cm, weight: 517g
Provenance
UK art market
Dayak Man’s Ear Ornament (Sabau) of Carved Hornbill Casque (Beak)
Kenyah/Kayan Dayak People, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia 19th-early 20th century
height: 4.6cm, length: 10cm, width: 4.2cm, weight: 26.36g
Provenance
Acquired in the UK, from the estate collection of Dr George Yuille Caldwell (1924-2016). Dr Caldwell, an English-born physician moved to Singapore in the 1950s, from where he built up a collection of mostly Borneo-related textiles and other ethnographica.